Campaigners launch bid to oust fascist Euro-MP Brons

They will be targeting Andrew Brons, who was elected British National Party (BNP) member of the European Parliament for the region in 2009.

Mr Brons scraped in with just 9.8 per cent of the vote - the lowest of the six successful candidates - while BNP leader Nick Griffin was elected for the neighbouring north-west constituency.

Since being elected they have strengthened links with other European far-right parties.

A Brons Must Go! campaign has been launched following meetings of Yorkshire and the Humber TUC's anti-fascist committee, which is working with Unite Against Fascism.

Secretary of Yorkshire and the Humber TUC Bill Adams said: "I support the campaign to defeat Brons and remove him from the European Parliament.

"His racist views and his inept brand of political activity has not represented the people of Yorkshire and the Humber in Europe. He has to go!"

Regional TUC chairman Tim Roache of the GMB union added: "We decided to target getting Brons out.

"We are well aware of the damage and devastation far-right parties are capable of.

"First we will be raising awareness among union members and then mobilising them, getting them active delivering leaflets, canvassing, knocking on doors. We will get him out."

While Mr Brons will be the TUC's main target, other far-right parties standing candidates will be opposed with the mobilisation, Mr Roache added.

The campaign already has the support of regional leaders of the PCS, CWU, Ucatt and Aslef unions.

Mr Brons is a veteran fascist and neo nazi. In 1964, at the age of 17, he joined the National Socialist Movement, founded on Adolf Hitler's birthday by Colin Jordan.

His far-right political career saw him become chairman of the National Front (NF), the organisation of street-fighting thugs.

He was twice NF general election candidate in his home town Harrogate in North Yorkshire during the '70s, each time polling just 2.3 per cent of the votes.

Mr Brons was also a lecturer at Harrogate College, which was targeted for demonstrations because of his racism and fascism. He has a conviction for using insulting words and behaviour while handing out NF leaflets in Leeds.

Later, he joined Mr Griffin's BNP though since being elected he has quit the party, before last year helping to found the British Democratic Party.

Mr Brons's term as a Euro-MP ends in 2014.